The day market in Hoi An (Central Market or Old Market) is located in the heart of Hoi An’s Ancient Town, next to the Hoai River. The market is quite large and spills across streets, with an indoor covered area and outdoor stalls along the river. It’s been operating since the 19th century and is an integral part of local community life.
The market is generally open daily from around 5:00–6:00 AM until 5:00–6:00 PM The fresh areas are best visited early in the morning (produce, seafood, meat and food stalls). It’s loud and busy, and expect every vendor you pass to try to get you interested in what they are selling. Towards the end of the afternoon, vendors are closing down and the action shifts to the upcoming evening market. We visited the market in the morning, and this is some of what we saw:
Produce was fresh and of high quality….
Locals shop here daily, so mornings are chaotic and photogenic with vendors unloading boats from the river and much bargaining going on….
Shopping for souvenirs, silk scarves, clothes, handicrafts, spices, coffee are all available. There are some tailor shops nearby (Hoi An is famous for custom clothing and custom made shoes —many tailors are clustered around or inside the market area).
The market is one of the best spots for authentic, cheap Vietnamese food street food, including noodle dishes, fresh spring rolls or exotic items like quail eggs and sugarcane juice. Many people depend on these stalls for their daily meals.
The market is free to enter and you can wander about at will. People will want you to buy something and if you are interested, bargain politely. Carry some Vietnamese cash to pay for purchases. Some vendors will accept US dollars, and no one will take credit cards.
Combine it with a walk along the river or nearby sights—it’s right in the UNESCO-listed Ancient Town.
The souvenir-focused Hoi An Night Market (which starts around 5–6 PM) is located across the bridge on the other side of the river.
It’s a fun and vibrant market to explore.
